Indonesia's stance is firm and unwavering in its support for Palestinian independence. According to Dr. H. Mardani Ali Sera, M.Eng., Chairman of the House of Representatives' Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Agency (BKSAP), this consistent stance has been demonstrated by Indonesian leaders in every forum, both national and international.
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It's not without reason that Indonesia has been so vocal in its support for Palestinian independence. This is a mandate of the 1945 Constitution, which opposes all forms of colonialism on earth.
"We call on the entire nation to support Palestinian independence. That's what President Prabowo, Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Ahmad Muzani, Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) Puan Maharani, and others have voiced," said Mardani.
In recent months, following the 12-day war between Israel and Palestine, Mardani Ali Sera has observed growing support for the Palestinian movement.
"Extraordinary sympathy is pouring out for Palestine. It's unprecedented for students from major universities in America and various cities around the world to take to the streets to voice support for Palestine. This is a victory. In Javanese, it's called 'menang tanpo ngasorake' (achieving victory without hurting or harming others). Palestine has won the hearts of the world," he explained.
While no one can say for sure when the Palestinian people will truly achieve their independence, judging by current developments, Mardani believes that the path to independence is near. The two-state solution, as stipulated in UN Security Council Resolution No. 67, is only a matter of time.
He likened it to a fruiting tree: the fruit is old and will soon ripen. For the fruit to fall, sometimes the trunk needs to be dug or shaken. What is clear is that support for Palestinian independence must not wane.
"I see the path to peace growing brighter. When the night grows darker, it's a sign that dawn is breaking. Palestinian independence, for me, is within sight," Mardani Ali Sera emphasized to Edy Suherli, Bambang E. Ros, and Irfan Meidianto of VOI, who met him at the Indonesian Parliament Building on Thursday, July 10.
Although he doesn't yet know when, BKSAP Chairman Mardani Ali Sera is confident that Palestinian independence will be realized in the near future. (Photo: Bambang E. Ros – VOI, DI: Raga Granada VOI)
In your opinion, who suffered the most from the 12-Day Iran-Israel War? Iran, Israel, or Palestine as the affected third party?
I must give Iran credit in this context. The attackers were Israel and America—not just any country. They were two of the world's top defense powers. First, Iran was able to withstand the attack, and second, they were able to respond to the attack with careful calculation. It's not easy to defend and then strike back in a measured manner. This means the counterattack wasn't haphazard. Even when attacking an American military base in Qatar, Iran stated that Qatar was Iran's friend. They weren't attacking their country, but an American base.
So, what impact will this have on peace in Gaza and Palestine after the 12-Day War subsides?
There are three things to emphasize regarding Palestine. First, the Palestinian people themselves are the main force. What happened on October 7, 2023, demonstrated their strong military capacity. At the same time, their Palestinian allies in the West Bank also demonstrated their strength. Hopefully, these two entities will agree and accept each other's support.
Second, the positive sentiment generated by Israel's genocide against the people of Gaza. Extraordinary sympathy is pouring out for Palestine. It's a rare occasion for students from major universities in America and various cities around the world to take to the streets to voice support for Palestine. This is a victory. In Javanese, it's called "menang tanpo ngasorake" (achieving victory without hurting or harming others). Palestine has won the hearts of the global public.
And third, the major global players—America, Russia, China, Germany, the United Kingdom, Egypt, and Indonesia—will work to force peace in Gaza. For us, this also means forcing Palestinian independence.
With the ongoing Israeli blockade and hampered humanitarian missions, do you see any opportunity to open a permanent humanitarian corridor to Gaza?
Speaking of Israel, I want to use a microscopic approach. Within Israel itself, there are two camps. Coincidentally, the Likud Party is currently in coalition with the Faraid Party, a hard-line group there. Netanyahu did this because Likud is weak and needs support from the far-right.
Meanwhile, the vote winners are left-wing and centrist parties that tend to be pro-deescalation. However, we cannot say that they will facilitate Palestinian independence. So, this situation is what has driven Netanyahu to adopt a persistently aggressive stance, despite the risks. We hope the Israeli people are increasingly aware that what Netanyahu is doing is actually bringing destruction to Israel itself.
The 12-day war between Iran and Israel has resulted in many major Israeli cities being targeted by missiles. Is the long-trumpeted two-state solution still realistic?
From a multilateral perspective, we continue to refer to UN Security Council Resolution No. 67 concerning the Two-State Solution, where East Jerusalem becomes the capital of Palestine and the Israeli-occupied territories are returned to Palestine. This is an international solution with a strong legal framework.
Our current focus is Palestinian independence. Once they are independent, they can govern themselves, build, and practice democracy. That would be the most beautiful gift to the world.
Is parliamentary diplomacy, such as that carried out by the Indonesian House of Representatives' (DPR RI) BKSAP, effective enough to pressure Israel or encourage the international community to take a firmer stance on Israel and the two-state solution?
During the IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union) session, we at BKSAP succeeded in forcing the Israeli delegation from the Standing Committee on Peace to withdraw from the session. Countries that had traditionally supported them, such as Spain and the UK, no longer supported them and even attacked Israel's position. This was a small victory, even though our proposal on Palestine was not passed in the IPU General Assembly.
Many roads lead to Rome. Mr. Prabowo, with his executive branch, went all out in defending Palestine. Meanwhile, we in the legislature fought in parliamentary forums. Most recently, we consistently defended Palestine at the ASEAN Parliamentarians forum, the Asian Parliamentarians forum, and the IPU forum.
Currently, according to BKSAP Chairman Mardani Ali Sera, Palestine has succeeded in winning the hearts of the global public. (Photo: Bambang E. Ros – VOI, DI: Raga Granada VOI)
How far has the struggle for Palestinian independence progressed?
The road to independence is indeed long. It's like climbing 1,000 steps; we've only reached the 117th. But never tire of continuing to climb until you reach the summit: Palestinian independence. When we work according to the principles of truth and the constitutional mandate, that is already a victory. Although the journey is still long, we must be confident that Palestine will be free.
We pray that Palestinian independence will be achieved soon.
I firmly believe that Palestine will be free, because it is a historical inevitability.
Several ASEAN countries have established diplomatic relations with Israel. When voting or debates occur in international forums, what are their reactions?
ASEAN countries that have established diplomatic relations with Israel are Singapore, Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand. However, in many cases, despite their diplomatic relations, political support for Palestine remains. These relations are more economic. Thailand, for example, has recruited more than 20,000 educated agricultural workers to work in the agricultural sector.
So, have the BKSAP's efforts to pressure Israel been effective?
In terms of stopping Israel's attacks on Gaza, it hasn't been successful. However, in terms of increasing the number of countries recognizing Palestinian independence and providing support, it's increased significantly. For me, that's a victory. Palestine is now an official member of the International Union of Peace and Unity (IPU). What we're pursuing is full membership in the UN. Currently, it still has observer status. Now, 154 countries have supported it. In other words, we haven't scored a goal yet, but possession has increased, and our defense has become more organized.
How do you view Iran's role in the Palestinian struggle: is it a protector, or is it an actor that exacerbates the geopolitical situation in Gaza?
From what I see, Iran strongly supports Palestinian independence. In various international forums, Iran has consistently supported Palestine. They have even dared to retaliate against Israeli attacks. To me, that's no small matter.
Is there a risk of Gaza becoming a proxy war between Iran and Israel? How should Indonesia respond?
Most importantly, we must not lose focus on the goal of Palestinian independence. Even if Iran establishes proxies in several regions, we can exploit that situation to continue pushing for Palestinian independence. So, don't be allergic to such dynamics. Another example: China has diplomatic relations with Israel, but at the same time, they have also taken numerous initiatives to support Palestinian independence. Diplomacy is indeed tiring and complicated, but it is a victory for civilization. Wars occur because diplomacy fails, and we don't want to fail in diplomacy.
Indonesia consistently supports Palestinian independence. However, survey results show that around 2 percent of Indonesians support Israel. Is this a warning sign of Zionist influence in the country?
In fact, in some regions in Indonesia, there are indeed those who support Israel. But we can't control their thoughts. What we must do is explain that the Indonesian government supports Palestinian independence within the framework of a two-state solution. We invite the entire nation to support Palestine. That is what President Prabowo, Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Ahmad Muzani, Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) Puan Maharani, and other figures have voiced. It doesn't matter if 2 percent of the population supports Israel—the rest supports Palestine. That is a complete victory.
With 2% of the population said to support Israel, can it be said that Zionism has already penetrated Indonesia?
It would be great if academics could examine the reasons why 2% of the Indonesian population supports Israel. From there, we could develop a more accurate analysis. I once met a Jew living in Manado, and he disagreed with Israel's attacks on Palestine. Many Jews oppose Netanyahu. In New York, Jewish rabbis regularly participate in demonstrations calling for an end to the genocide in Gaza.
There's a difference between Judaism and Zionism. One is a religion, while the other is an ideology or belief. Just like terrorism—some people can be exposed to it, and so can Zionism. And in this day and age, such things are commonplace. So, there's no need to be overly alarmed by the 2% figure—it's still within reasonable limits. When faced with terrorism, Zionism, and so on, don't get emotional, let alone follow their drumbeat. Just stay calm and implement your own strategy.
As Chair of the BKSAP, do you see any gaps in cooperation between OIC parliaments to formulate global pressure on Israel?
The Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) is actually more powerful. I only assist Ms. Puan Maharani. We always report developments to her. I want the Palestinian issue to be a shared responsibility, not just for the PKS. I was pleased when Ms. Puan, Mr. Ahmad Muzani, and even Mr. Prabowo spoke out in defense of Palestine in various forums.
After the 12-day war between Iran and Israel, what does the future of peace in Gaza and Palestine look like?
I see the path to peace growing brighter. When the night grows darker, it's a sign that dawn is about to break. For me, Palestinian independence is within sight. It's like a tree whose fruit is almost ripe—sometimes we need to shake it to make it fall. Our task is to keep fighting until that independence truly arrives.
Currently, cities like Tel Aviv, Haifa, Beersheba, and others are like Gaza—in ruins. How do you see it?
Regarding the destruction caused by missiles in major Israeli cities, further confirmation is needed. Are they truly destroyed, and how extensive is the damage? It's true that some of their defense systems, such as the Iron Dome, were breached. But the extent of the damage is very different from that in Gaza. Around 85–90% of Gaza was completely destroyed.
It's important to note that the people of Gaza are indeed resilient and strong. They have long endured attacks and urban destruction. Unlike the residents of Tel Aviv and other cities, who have lived in comfort and security, their mentality is not prepared for attacks and destruction. Israel's military strength is still superior, but its soft power is significantly diminished. World sympathy for Israel is waning, while empathy for Palestine continues to increase. In my opinion, that is a victory.
Let's pray that Palestinian independence will soon be realized.
Yes, we must not stop praying and working hard. Currently, there are 125 NGOs consistently fighting for Palestinian independence. They remain loyal. In the not-too-distant future, we are confident that we will be able to enter Gaza, the West Bank, and other Palestinian territories. We will join hands to build Palestine. The resilience of the Palestinian people can be an inspiration to us all.
Mardani Ali Sera and the School of Prospective Leaders
According to Mardani Ali Sera, as a politician, he feels the need to have works that will become his legacy. (Photo: Bambang E. Ros – VOI, DI: Raga Granada VOI)
Beyond his busy political career and his duties as Chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Agency (BKSAP) of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Dr. H. Mardani Ali Sera, M.Eng., has another equally important activity. He founded a school to cultivate future national leaders. It's called the Mardani Leadership School (MLS). Through this school, he not only teaches but also participates in learning.
"Politicians must also care about education. A good politician must love knowledge. So, politics and education are integrated, because politicians are entrusted with managing public affairs," said the man born in Jakarta on April 9, 1968.
Mardani acknowledged that public affairs are complex. "Public affairs require wisdom, and knowledge is the foundation. I enjoy managing all of that," continued the 1987 Mechanical Engineering alumnus from the University of Indonesia.
MLS is a boarding school for junior high and senior high school students located in the Lubang Buaya area of Cipayung, East Jakarta. Through this school, he hopes that students who complete their education will become future national leaders in whatever field they choose to pursue.
Consistent Criticism of President Jokowi's Policies
Mardani Ali Sera expressed relief after apologizing for consistently criticizing President Jokowi's policies over the past 10 years. (Photo: Bambang E. Ros – VOI, DI: Raga Granada VOI)
Before entering politics, Mardani Ali Sera was known for his outspoken criticism. One such criticism was directed at the 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo.
"I once strongly criticized the 2019 Change the President movement. Therefore, during President Prabowo's inauguration on October 20, 2024, I met with Mr. Jokowi to apologize for my criticisms of his consistent policies from 2014 to 2024. I was happy that he accepted my apology," said Mardani, who is pursuing his Masters and Doctoral degrees at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
Mardani continued, explaining that he needed to convey this apology in person to resolve the matter. "I wanted to convey it in person. So that later, if I am asked to account for my actions, I have fulfilled my part. Hopefully, my business with him, in this world, is finished," said Mardani, who founded MLS in 2021.
As President Jokowi's term draws to a close, Mardani also took time to reflect. Despite frequent criticism, he felt he hadn't yet achieved anything he could truly be proud of. "That's why I was determined to create something tangible. One of those was the Mardani Leadership School. I named this school after myself because it's a form of public accountability," explained the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician.
School for Yourself
Having a school that serves as a place of learning for students, for Mardani Ali Sera, is also a place of learning for himself. (Photo: Bambang E. Ros – VOI, DI: Raga Granada VOI)
The school he founded is indeed open to students from outside the country, but Mardani said it's also for himself. "This school isn't just for the students, but also for me personally. Through this school, I want to learn how to build an educational institution," he said.
He also enjoys direct discussions with students at MLS. "I often have discussions with students. Through these discussions, I want to pass on what's in my mind. Hopefully, when they move on to university, they'll be ready to develop themselves," he explained.
Mardani observed that there is currently almost no significant difference between junior high and high school students. "The openness of information and easy access via the internet have made the knowledge of junior high and high school students almost equal. The only difference is how diligently they read and explore information. At our school, junior high and high school students can exchange ideas," he said.
At this school, the admission selection system is based on talent. "Don't teach birds to swim, and don't teach fish to fly. Let birds rule the sky, and fish rule the sea," he said, explaining that he instills the 3B principle in students: meet lots of people, do lots of activities, and have a variety of activities.
Another interesting aspect, continued Mardani Ali Sera, is that every student at MLS is required to have a project, either individual or group. All projects begin with real-life problems around them. "Through these projects, students must solve the problems they encounter. Some people create projects to find the cause and solution to why there are so many ants in their rooms, for example," he said, giving an example.
"I see the path to peace growing brighter. As the night darkens, it signals the break of dawn. For me, Palestinian independence is within reach. Like a tree that is almost ripe. For the fruit to fall, sometimes we need to shake the tree. Our task: to fight relentlessly until that freedom arrives."
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
